As founder and managing general partner of G-51, Rudy focuses on the development of all portfolio companies, syndication partnerships and deal flow. Through mentoring as well as serving on portfolio boards, he is instrumental in driving success through defining and then guiding the implementation of well grounded business and marketing strategies. Rudy applies his expertise which includes an extensive knowledge of successful hardware and software business models, market shaping services, business growth strategies and talent sourcing. Rudy knows start-ups and what it takes to build market value.

Rudy has been active in the venture business since 1996. He has demonstrated success in early stage business identification and development, leading to the firm’s nationally ranked return performance. Rudy is active leader in the venture community, including longstanding participation in NVCA and the Texas Venture Capital Association. He has led syndicated investment deals with numerous angel investors, institutional and corporate venture capital firms such as Austin Ventures, New Enterprise Associates, Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers, Bain Capital, Polaris Ventures and Institutional Venture Partners.

Rudy is active within the Austin community. He serves on the board of directors for University of Texas Exes and serves as the chairman of the Endowment Investment Committee. Rudy is a lifetime honorary trustee of the Dell Children’s Medical Center. He is an Austin native and received his MBA from The University of Texas at Austin and his BBA from St. Edwards University.

As a G-51 partner since 2000, Lauranne focuses on due diligence, defining deal structures and post-investment financial and operational controls. In addition to financial review and milestone management, she is actively involved in the process that ensures there is enough financial runway to achieve each portfolio company’s corporate goals. Lauranne utilizes her expertise in all aspects of financial management to remove operational and economic barriers for successful exits.

Lauranne is currently on the Board of Directors for Pilot Software. She has served in strategic and financial roles for portfolio companies including Psionic, Fracta and ReachForce and is an active advisor for Memeo and iTaggit.

Prior to joining G-51, she was the Chief Financial Officer for NLynx Systems, Inc. (“NLynx”), where she oversaw their growth from $1M to $30M. Her responsibilities included Accounting and Finance, Human Resources and MIS for their global operation. She was involved in the successful acquisition and integration of multiple companies. Prior to NLynx, Lauranne worked as an auditor for Wheeler and Bull and Ernst and Young.

Lauranne is active in several organizations including Habitat for Humanity and the Humane Society. Lauranne has been a CPA since 1992 with an extensive knowledge in all areas of fiscal management. She received her MBA and BBA from the University of Texas at Austin.